Be EPIC Podcast

Brett Biggs is the executive vice president and chief financial officer for Walmart. Biggs' position has an influence on 2.2 million Walmart associates, 2,800 suppliers, and, of course, millions of customers. Matt Waller talks with Biggs about his hefty responsibilities, how to develop leadership and managerial skills, and what makes a strong team.

With leadership experiences at Walmart, Meijer, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and now as CEO of PetSmart, J.K. Symancyk knows the ins and outs of retail. He never mapped out a plan to end up in the retail industry, but as he continued to say “yes” to each new opportunity, he climbed the ladder. In this episode of the Be EPIC Podcast, J.K. and Matt talk about the importance of teaching and learning from others throughout your career, and what separates great retailers from the rest of the pack. Learn more about Matt Waller: https://walton.uark.edu/about/dean.php https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwallerphd/ Learn more about the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business: https://walton.uark.edu/ Learn more about J.K. Symancyk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-k-symancyk-3952097/ https://www.petsmartcorporate.com/management-team/j-k-symancyk/

Katie Greenway is a market research manager for SMART CPG Consulting and creator of Culinary Wanderings, a digital platform featuring Greenway’s culinary recipes. On this episode of the podcast, Greenway talks with Matt Waller about what inspired her to build her business, her content creation process, and her entrepreneurial approach. She also touches on how to balance a full-time job while pursuing ventures like Culinary Wanderings. Learn more about SMART CPG Consulting: https://www.thesmarteam.com/ Learn more about Culinary Wanderings: https://www.culinarywanderings.com/, https://www.instagram.com/culinarywanderingsblog/, https://www.pinterest.com/CulinaryWanderings/_saved/

Tucker Taylor joined Federal Express in 1973 and held senior management positions in customer service, ground operations, industrial engineering, and national sales. Taylor is currently a board member of Supply Pike and an associate for Leaf Logistics. Dan Sanker is the president and CEO of CaseStack (now Hub Group’s Retail Supplier Solutions). CaseStack is nationally recognized by leading publications as one of the fastest-growing private companies. Sanker also serves as the chairman of the board for SupplyPike. In this episode of the Be EPIC Podcast, Matt sits down with Taylor and Sanker to discuss the beginning of FedEx and how companies can learn from their strategies and achievements to grow.

Dr. Lisa Williams is a former professor at the University of Arkansas who went on to start her own business. In 2003, Dr. Williams formed the World of Entertainment, Publishing and Inspiration (World of EPI) with the mission of spreading joy by providing children with multicultural dolls that inspire dreams, promote intelligence, and build self-esteem. On this episode of the Be EPIC Podcast, Dr. Williams sits down with Matt Waller to discuss her passion behind her business, the process of founding World of EPI, and her EPIC advice for students wanting to start their own company.

The Simkins brothers, Austin and Quinn, are Co-Founders of Natural Way Food Group. Established in 2017, the company was created to produce flavorful nut butters that offered little sugar and used olive oil instead of palm oil. On this episode of the Be EPIC Podcast, The Simkins brothers sat down with Matt Waller to discuss founding their company and the triumphs and challenges of entrepreneurship. To learn more about Natural Way Food Group and their products, check out their website with the following link: https://www.naturalwayfoodgroup.com

Cindy Moehring is the founder and executive chair of the Business Integrity Leadership Initiative at Walton College, which highlights the importance of business ethics and integrating these skills into Walton College classes. In this episode of the Be EPIC Podcast, Moehring shares the importance of business integrity and her upcoming program, “Let’s Talk About Fraud.” To sign up for the program, check out this link: https://walton.uark.edu/business-integrity/blog/lets-talk-about--fraud.php

Craig Harper joined J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. in 1992 and became chief operations officer and executive vice president in 1997. After 28 years with the company, he recently became the chief sustainability officer for J.B. Hunt.* Harper is responsible for safety, maintenance, corporate driver personnel, the J.B. Hunt Experience, and fuel programs for the company. In this week’s Be EPIC Podcast episode, Harper discusses sustainability, alternative fuels, and his advice to college students on how to be a successful leader. *Craig moved into this new role after the recording of this episode.

Jonathan Thompson is the current CEO of Nielson-Massey Vanillas. Thompson is a veteran CPG executive with experience leading top-performing brands in high-growth categories. In today’s episode of the Be Epic podcast, Jonathan Thompson sits down with Matt Waller to discuss his experience as a young CEO and what led to his success in the industry.

Michelle Segar, Ph.D., MPH, MS, is the bestselling author of “No Sweat” and a sustainable behavior change scientist. She currently directs the University of Michigan’s Sport, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center (SHARP). Segar’s comprehensive, research-based approach to creating sustainable behavior change has made her a sought-after speaker, trainer, and consultant. In today’s episode of the Be EPIC podcast, Segar discusses the importance of physical fitness, maintaining motivation, and her book. To purchase a copy of “No Sweat,” follow this link: https://michellesegar.com/book/